Gov. Jan Brewer is upset over Secretary Clinton's statement that the U.S. Justice Dept. plans to file a lawsuit against Arizona's new immigration law. The Justice Dept. later said no decision has been made.

(CNN) - Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is fuming over a comment by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to an Ecuadorean television station that the government will file a lawsuit against Arizona's new immigration law.

In a statement Thursday, Brewer said she learned of plans for the lawsuit from the June 8 interview Clinton gave to NTN24.

According to a transcript of the interview, Clinton said that President Barack Obama had spoken out against the law because he believes the federal government should set immigration policy.

"And the Justice Department, under his direction, will be bringing a lawsuit against the act," Clinton said in the interview.

On Thursday, a Justice Department spokesperson said no final decision had been made on the matter.

"The department continues to review the law," said the spokesperson, Tracy Schmaler.

Brewer's statement said she was "stunned and angered" by Clinton's statement that a lawsuit would be filed.

soundoff(233 Responses)

NVa Native

What a sour face. It's time for our federal government to address the blatantly illegal activities of the right wing radicals by using existing laws. No matter if they are in local and state governments, or corporate elites, or media outlets. Free speach is different than spreading lies and decption for the purpose of gaining political power.

June 18, 2010 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

Brian

Arizona isn't "setting immigration policy" they are enacting procedures to enforce the current immigration laws.

June 18, 2010 09:32 am at 9:32 am |

Amazed @ the duplicitousness

Why would Hillary Clinton to an Ecuadorean television station that the government will file a lawsuit ?

They are not our directly bordering neighbor.... Ecuadorians cannot get top the US through Mexico, as they would be held and put in jail ans illegals by the Mexican government (according to Mexican immigration law). So why would she make thaqt announcement there and not in her own country?

June 18, 2010 09:32 am at 9:32 am |

Willie12345

I understand that Hillary was able to skillfully negotiate the surrender of a national park to the drug cartels. She was able to talk them out of taking Utah.

June 18, 2010 09:32 am at 9:32 am |

charles

democracts are playing politics at the expense of national security. i am an immigrant, but there is no country in the world that would act so reckless by letting her boarders open to very one. I support so many democratic causes , but not this one. All Americans should support national ID's, this would solve the immigration problems this country is facing.

June 18, 2010 09:33 am at 9:33 am |

Bob

Bring it on.

It will show the Federal Government has been totally lax in enforcing a law they passed and because of that, it has not only caused a steady stream of illegal aliens (yes aliens!) that has taxed the Arizona social services system and other government supported functions, but has increased the crime rate (when you look at illegal aliens compared to legal aliens, legal immigrants and citizens) and now has become an effective conduit for the transfer of drugs across the border by an ever increasing bold and armed cartel(s).

Go ahead a bring this lawsuit and polarize the american citizens even more. Even your CNN polls show a preponderance of the american people are for this law. I don't care what the far left thinks.

The United States of America in a Center-Right country and that won't change by the unfettered actions of the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic party.

So, Mr Holder, don't just sit back, issue the suit. But you won't do it now. Why? Your strategists in the White House are still trying to figure out how to play this for the November elections where they are vulnerable. They will issue the suit around late August, thereby impact hispanic voter populations in Nevada and elsewhere where the election stakes are high.

June 18, 2010 09:33 am at 9:33 am |

seebofubar

Hillary Clinton is an idiot!! Read the Arizona law dummy, IT IS THE FEDERAL LAW. The only thing tyhat the Arizona law does is mandate that it's inforced. Go fish for minority votes somewhere else.

June 18, 2010 09:34 am at 9:34 am |

Da Professor

Good golly gee, does that Republican Gov have a nasty look on her face or what? Should the Congress set laws for immigration? YES!

Unfortunately, in 8 very long years with Bushy and Dicky and a Republican Congress, NO effort was made to pass an immigration law. They talk a good game and play like a bunch of disgruntled little boys and girls. The NO Party continues on their way with NO ideas.

CNN is leaving out the Gov's point, she was stunned that the administration would announce the intent to sue during an interview with a foreign media outlet. I am not sure why she is stunned by the fact that this administration would put foreigners ahead of americans.

June 18, 2010 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

sifto77

What else could you expect from Obama and his lackies, the Clintons? What a disappointment Hilary is! The worm has turned–she is now in lockstep with the big O–apologizing and sucking up to other countries–what an embarrassment to the USA! I actually voted for her in the primary!

June 18, 2010 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Goofy

Just shows how stupid clinton,s views are. I can't imagine how she could make such an ignorant comment, well yes I can given her track record. The law is supposed to be upheld, not bent by a bunch of politically correct liberal morons who are just after a vote. Arizona needs to tell the feds to mind their own business( which they are not doing a very good job of managing at the moment, (complete failure on the gulf disaster) If they are illegal in this country it should be treated for what it is, a crime.

June 18, 2010 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Interesting

Very classy. The Secretary of State gives an interview in Ecuador on the legality of Arizona's law (which is the same as federal law), assuming have a right to be outraged over our laws.

Then the Justice Department, which is unrelated to the State Department, says no determination has been made.

Who is running this show?

June 18, 2010 09:39 am at 9:39 am |

Ben-James

The governor Brewer has the huevos to stand up for what is right!!! Why the hell should illegals that have babies in the US illegally get benefits?! Why shouldn't we kick illegals out of the country?! What rights would WE have in any of the whining Hispanic countries if we did the same?! These bloodsuckers also get bilingual signs, books, schooling, etc. on our dime!!! Why?! This is the United States of America and we are an ENGLISH speaking country. How many times have you been switching through radio channels and not been able to understand what they are saying in YOUR OWN COUNTRY!!!

Go Gov. Brewer!!! Let's hope that the rest of the states have the balls to do what the Federal government doesn't before we are all forced the speak the language of our southern neighbor!

June 18, 2010 09:41 am at 9:41 am |

Tired

I would remind the Governor that she is entitled to her opinion and Secretary Clinton is entitled to hers. Freedom works both ways.

June 18, 2010 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Richard Larson

How anyone who supported the anti-immigrant law passed by the Arizona Legislature could have so completely mis-read the US Constitution is stunning. They had to know that it would lead to a Constitutional confrontation. There is no other possible result.

The notion that the Federal Government legally controls the borders and immigration law has been settled law for a great many years.

All this is, is a bigoted group of local politicians who are seeking this confrontation because they, and a sizeable percentage of adherants in the Republican Party are of the opinion that because a black man has purportedly been elected president, and that they consider his administration to be an illegal administration, they can feel free to actively propose the notion that if you disagree with the idea of Federal supremacy, then you can enact any law you wish that directly contravenes the Constitution. That you are wrong doesn't matter. The exercise is a political ploy meant to demonstrate dis-satisfaction with the status-quo.

June 18, 2010 09:44 am at 9:44 am |

Paul Ernest Show

It has always been federal role to make rules on immigration and Arizona is violating a federal law. As much as polls show a greater number of Americans support Arizona, that does not change the law. Its about time people start respecting this president and his administration.

June 18, 2010 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

Don of Iowa

The stupid Govenor Brewer is just upset because she realizes this was going to happen inevitably and they will be over turned. This is typical reaction of bigoted morons all over the country, take away their ability to put down minorities and they have a cow, anyone with a brain, which definitely leaves out Govenor Brewer and the rest of the Republican bigots in Arizona, knew this was a miscarriage of justice and definitely an act by bigots and will get thrown out in the Supreme Court regardless of how loudly the bigots scream, rant and rave and throw a fit!

June 18, 2010 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

marxist dogs are out of control

No CNN, the PEOPLE fume at Clinton. Your attempt to belittle the Governor of Arizona is disgusting.

June 18, 2010 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Purnell

It is the Federal government's job to set immigration policy. Anyone who has a problem with that has a problem with the constitution.

June 18, 2010 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Osman C Kurtulus

Whole nation is angered by Governor's action. Doesn't she has a mirror?

June 18, 2010 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Justen in Florida

obuma is spending more money fighting a law against illegal immagration, than he is spending on fighting illegal immagration...

wierd.

June 18, 2010 09:47 am at 9:47 am |

Bill

Hillary Clinton has not gotten any smarter as time has passed. She has a history of opening her mouth and saying something that has no real substance. Thank God for Arizona. A place that will stand up for what is right in the face of a socialsit Obama administration!

June 18, 2010 09:48 am at 9:48 am |

Randy

We now have 3500 acres that are not safe for americans. This has now become an invasion. We need to bring armed forces down there and and treat this like the war zone it is. This is not another country this is American soil being attacked.

June 18, 2010 09:48 am at 9:48 am |

upstate-ny

I just don't understand how our government can support people that our breaking the law. Not only the ILLEGAL immigrants but those that employ them. They use our system, take our jobs, tax our health care, etc. etc. When a citizen breaks the law there are consequences for their actions. I don't understand. When an illegal immigrant gives birth and the baby is automatically a US citizen, who do you think supports mom and baby. It's the taxpayers. There is a legal process to become a US citizen, those who choose not to follow the procedures should be exported to their own country. GOOD FOR ARIZONA...I WISH THE POLITICIANS WOULD LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. California wouldn't be in the finanical crisis it is if the new Arizona law was in effect and enforced. Again, I don't understand how our government can support those who break the law.